Paper box



(No Model.)

D. M. SMITH.

PAPER BOX.

No. 325,773. PatentedSept. 8. 1885.

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UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

DESBROW MERRILL SMITH, or HYDE PARK, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO THE AoME PAPER BOX COMPANY, on BOSTON, MASSAoHUSETrS.

PAPER BOX.

EJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,773, dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed February 6, 18r5. (No model.)

folding flaps or other part or parts used for closing the opening through which the box is filled or emptied. The means I have devised for the purpose consist of a sliding tongue, which is formed and applied to one of the flaps or parts in the manner hereinafter described, and is adapted to enter and engage a slot formed in the part overlapped by said tongue-carrying flap or part. The tongue is made from a blank of thin sheet metal, stiff paper, or other material of proper stiffness, which is first bent into proper form to make the tongue and also two leaves. The tongue is applied to the under side of its flap. The leaves are inserted through a slot formed in said flap so that they shall project to the exterior, and they are then spread .apart and bent down upon the flaps so as to secure the device thereto, and to form also a button orthumb-piece for operating thesliding tongue or a base to which such button or thumbpiece can be secured. The device can slide to and fro in the flap, and the length of the slot therein determines the range of movement of the device.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is alongitudinal central section of a paper box with end flaps provided with a locking device embodying my invention in its preferred form. Fig. 2 is av view of the blank from which the sliding tongue is made. Fig. 3 is a view of the device after it is bent up to form the tongue, and before the leaves which form the button are turned down. Fig. 4 isan end view of the box shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

5 represents a modified form of the device.

The paper boX in respects other than those about to be mentioned is of ordinary or suitable construction.

A and B are the two outer end flaps, the

former being intended to overlap the latter.

Inthe part A is the sliding tongue and button hereinbefore referred to.

The blank from which this device is made is ofthin sheet metal, and is of the form indicated in Fig. l. The central part of theblank. is bent over and pressed down upon itself along lines 1 1 to form the tongue a, which at its front end is rounded and bent downward slightly to facilitate its engagement with the slotted flap B. The notched portions 2 of the blank form the Shank of the device, and the blank is bent up along the inner line of these two notched portions, so as to stand in a plane at right angles to the plane of the tongue.

This brings the notched portions together to form the shank, and also brings the leaves b together, as represented. in Fig. 3. WVhile the blank is in this condition it is applied to the flap A by passing the leaves and shank through the slot 0, formed in the latter, so that they shall project to the outside, which brings the tongue upon the inner face of the flap. The leaves b are then spread apart and bent down upon the flap, as indicated in Fig. 4., thus forming a button for holding the tongue in place, and also for sliding the latter back and forth as far as permitted by the slot 0. The slot dnvhich is formed in the flap G, is of a size to admit the end of the tongue.

In using the device the slotted flap B is first closed, and then the flap A, with the tongue drawn back, is folded down upon flap C, after which the tongue, by means of the button b, is shoved forward until it enters slot (1, and thus locks the parts together, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The locking means just described are thosewhich I prefer; but the form of the blank can be varied by making the tongue as shown in Fig. 4. When this device is made of paper, as it can readily be, the leaves, after having been spread apart and bent down, can be held inthat position by a pasteboard button placed upon and united to them by glue or the like. Such a construction is indicated by dotted lines in the figure lastreferred to.

Having described my improvement and the manner in which the same is to be carried the outer face of the flap, substantially as and I0 into effect what I claim, and desire to secure for the purposes set forth. by Letters Patent, is- I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set A paper box in which the slotted part B is my hand this 30th day of January, 1885. 5 combined with a flap, A, overlapping the part B, and provided on the inner face of its over- DESBROVV MERRILL SMITH lapping part with a sliding tongue held in WVitnesses: place by leaves I), passed through slot 0 in said RACHEL A. HYDE, flap, and spread apart and bent down upon GEORGE C. ABBOTT. 

